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Greek pioneer Maria Themeli’s fight for accessible cancer treatments

The Greek Herald
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Greek pioneer Maria Themeli’s fight for accessible cancer treatments

By Eleni Patsalides.

Dr Maria Themeli is a researcher at the Amsterdam Cancer Centre and is a frontrunner in the development of cancer immunotherapy. She has made vital contributions to the treatment of blood cancer with the patented production of CAR-T cells which feature an anticancer activity.

Born and raised in Patras, Dr Themeli studied at the Medical School of the University of Patras. Graduating at the top of her class in 2006, she completed her doctorate at the same university before moving to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York City in 2014 for her postdoctoral work.

In 2015, Dr Themeli joined the VUmc Cancer Centre and was awarded the Marie Curie Scholarship from the European Union. In two short years, she was named “Woman of the Year” in the Netherlands.

“I believe that very soon we will have improved results for the treatment”

Dr Themeli is considered an advocate for democratising access to effective cancer treatments.

In an interview with local media, Dr Themeli expressed how access to cancer treatments is not always easy “because cancer is an extremely variable disease,” but she believes a solution is possible.

“Our group, along with scientists from all over the world, is trying to find solutions to these problems, and I believe that very soon we will have improved results for the treatment with CAR-T and on other types of cancer,” she said.

Dr Themeli has spoken openly about how she believes everyone should have access, regardless of their financial standing, as healthcare should not be reserved for the wealthy.

When speaking about the vast discrepancy in access to treatments, Dr Themeli told The Greek Observer that ”there are difficulties because pharmaceutical companies interested in the production of CAR-T cells have given very high production cost, approximately 350,000 euros, when the production at academic level does not exceed 50,000 euros.”

“Providing an answer to even one question is the driving force”

Dr Themeli told Impactalk that she attributes her success to the support she received from her family during her career and that “it is important for the family to recognise the value of the search for knowledge and to strengthen this process.”

Whilst the journey for answers is long, Dr Themeli has said that “it is important to celebrate our goals.”

“Research consists of 90% failure and frustration and only 10% of moments of success. Providing an answer to even one question is the driving force,” she said.

Source: Ellines, Impactalk

Spotlight on talented 2021 HSC students as ARTEXPRESS exhibition launches

Andriana Simos
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Spotlight on talented 2021 HSC students as ARTEXPRESS exhibition launches

Talented young creators and innovators from across the state will be celebrated in one of eight HSC Showcases launching today, starting with ARTEXPRESS at the Art Gallery of NSW.

Each year, the HSC Showcases display a selection of top major works from students across visual arts, performing arts and technologies.

Minister for Education and Early Learning, Sarah Mitchell, said showcases offer a unique opportunity for members of the public to enjoy the works of our recent HSC graduates and provide a platform for young people to launch future careers in the field.

Gerard Barrios, ‘Takeaway’ – ARTEXPRESS 2022.

“Seeing what students have produced in a challenging year really shows me that the future is bright for these young people, and our workforce and communities will be better for them,” Ms Mitchell said.

This year’s exhibitions reflect on what is important to young people as members of their community and personally, including the impacts of COVID, their strength and vulnerability, their heritage and the environment around them.

A number of students of Greek heritage have featured in the exhibitions over the years, including Ariana Galanos from Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Sydney, who received an ATAR of 98.3.

Ariana Galanos’ artworks featured in ARTEXPRESS in 2020.

Ariana’s Year 12 Visual Arts major work, ‘The Condition of the Compulsive,’ was selected for ARTEXPRESS in 2020 and explored Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and the corresponding anxiety and rituals that manifest within individuals who suffer from it.

The talented youngster also completed major works for Design and Technology and Textiles and Design, and received nominations for the NESA Shape and Texstyles exhibitions respectively.

ARTEXPRESS is now on at the Art Gallery of NSW, and at limited venues across the state throughout the year.

For more information or to make a booking, see here.

Bayside Council calls for Greek Festival to return to Brighton-Le-Sands in 2022

The Greek Herald
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Bayside Council calls for Greek Festival to return to Brighton-Le-Sands in 2022

The Leader has reported today that Bayside Council will work towards bringing the Greek Festival back to Brighton-Le-Sands in 2022.

This news comes after a Council meeting last night where Councillor Bill Saravinovski asked for “in principle support” for the return of the Greek Festival.

According to Councillor Saravinovski, the festival organisers have approached the Council and said “they want to bring it back to Brighton.”

“They are putting in a submission to the State Government for funding and it’s a great opportunity,” the Councillor told the local newspaper.

“When the festival was in Brighton it had a buzz. It was a real cultural festival.”

Councillor Saravinovski’s call was unanimously supported by the council.

Source: The Leader.

Xanthoula Papadopoulos’ wartime love story on display at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance

The Greek Herald
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Xanthoula Papadopoulos’ wartime love story on display at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance

The beautiful love story of Xanthoula Papadopoulos and Australian soldier, Herbert “Slim” Wrigley, has been put on display at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance as part of the new ‘Lust. Love. Loss. Australian stories of wartime relationships‘ exhibition.

According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the exhibition uses artworks, photographs, memorabilia and personal objects to explore a great sweep of war themes often overlooked by official histories.

In the case of Xanthoula, the exhibition details how she was only 14 years old when Slim Wrigley, from Yarraville in Melbourne, was welcomed into her family’s home in the Greek village of Retini in September 1941. This act of mercy saw Xanthoula’s dad executed by the Germans.

Slim Wrigley had himself escaped from a German prisoner-of-war camp in Salonika (Thessalonika), 120 kilometres to the north-east. Eventually, he returned into the mountains to fight with the Greek resistance.

Studio Portrait of Herbert ‘Slim’ Wrigley, 1950. Photo: Shrine of Remembrance.

Xanthoula and Slim Wrigley re-connected four years after the war ended, the SMH reports. Xanthoula found a slip of paper with his name and address on it and was encouraged by her mother to write to him in case he had survived.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Xanthoula and Slim Wrigley began to correspond regularly until he offered to pay for her fare to Melbourne. She arrived at the end of January 1951 and discovered “a very gentle man, well-educated, handsome and honest.”

In less than six weeks, Xanthoula and Slim were married, and remained together until he died in 1995.

“It is a big story,” says Xanthoula, now aged 94. “It was a very long time ago.”

To hear this story and more you can visit ‘Lust. Love. Loss: Australian stories of wartime relationships’ at the Melbourne Shrine until November 2022. Open daily 10am-5pm, shrine.org.au.

Zoi Tsardoulias, Greek organisations among those leading Marrickville Town Hall multicultural project

Andriana Simos
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Zoi Tsardoulias, Greek organisations among those leading Marrickville Town Hall multicultural project

The 100th birthday of Marrickville Town Hall has been celebrated today with the announcement of some exciting news.

The Inner West Council has confirmed they are relaunching their plan to turn the town hall into a multicultural music and arts venue.

“Alongside the magnificent Marrickville Library and the growing number of music venues along the strip, we are determined to make use of this precious building to help make Marrickville Road one of Sydney’s great cultural destinations,” Mayor Darcy Byrne said on Facebook.

“Here’s to another 100 years of multiculturalism, arts and music at Marrickville Town Hall.”

READ MORE: Zoi Tsardoulias honours her late husband’s legacy as new Inner West Councillor.

According to Mayor Byrne, “the majority of Councillors on the previous Council decided not to support this plan,” but “with the new Labor Majority in the Inner West, we are bringing it back to life.”

READ MORE: ‘Marrickville I’m home’: Anna Polyviou to open her first-ever patisserie shop.

The project will be led by Greek Australian Councillor Zoi Tsardoulias and Councillor Mat Howard, along with local ethnic community organisations such as the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney.

“Making Marrickville Town Hall a place for multicultural performance and live music means that local multicultural community groups get a new public space to perform, rehearse and share their culture,” Councillor Tsardoulias told The Greek Herald.

“It’s also another way to celebrate the important contribution migrant communities – including our Greek community – have made to our area over many years. 

“How we use our town halls and community spaces should reflect our proud multicultural community. That’s why Council will invite local multicultural community groups to tell us their vision for the Hall and to make sure the plans reflect the needs of the community.”

The President of the Hellenic Lyceum of Sydney, Liana Vertzayias, as well as youth dressed in traditional Greek costumes, were on proud display outside the town hall during the media announcement today.

Nick Politis and Peter V’landys named among Sydney’s top 100 most powerful people

Andriana Simos
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Nick Politis and Peter V’landys named among Sydney’s top 100 most powerful people

The Daily Telegraph has revealed it’s ‘Power 100’ rankings for 2022 and among the list are two Australians of Greek heritage – Nick Politis and Peter V’landys.

They have joined a number of other powerful people in Sydney, including NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet at number one position and Prime Minister Scott Morrison at number two.

4. Peter V’landys:

Peter V’landys has two of the biggest jobs in sport as the CEO of Racing NSW and Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission.

The child of Greek migrants, V’landys actually has a background in business and commerce, but was drawn to rugby league because he never forgot how he felt as a young boy playing for Wests Illawarra.

“My parents, being migrants, they didn’t think rugby league was a career. So I went to uni and got into business, took a different path,” V’landys told the Illawarra Mercury in 2020.

READ MORE: Childhood lessons set the tone for Peter V’landys’ career trajectory.

“But I never forgot what rugby league did for me. When the opportunity to pay it back came, I took it up. That’s why I’m doing what I’m doing. It’s purely to repay the game.”

Now, V’landys has become one of the most powerful men in Australian sport.

In recent years, his profile has also been pushed further into the public spotlight as he fought to keep rugby league viable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

READ MORE: Opinion: How the coronavirus outbreak will change the future of global sport.

22. Nick Politis:

Nick Politis is a migrant from the Greek island of Kythera who has helped save rugby league in Australia and turned a single car dealership into a $2 billion fortune.

Politis was born to George and Argyro Politis on Kythera in 1941, only months after the Germans took over the island during WWII.

READ MORE: How Nick Politis went from Kythera to becoming one of Australia’s billionaires.

At the end of the war, Politis and his family arrived in Australia when he was eight. From an early age, a strong work ethic was instilled in him.

Now, Politis is one of Australia’s least-known billionaires.

He’s 80, of modest height and does yoga four times a week. He also happens to be one of the most powerful men in rugby league as the Chairman of the Sydney Roosters, and is the most influential person in the Australian car industry.

READ MORE: Greeks billionaires feature among Australia’s 250 richest people.

Source: The Daily Telegraph.

Koutsogiannis family share heartbreak after being denied last moments with dying dad

The Greek Herald
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Koutsogiannis family share heartbreak after being denied last moments with dying dad

COVID-19 hospital visitation rules are being relaxed in New South Wales today but for the Koutsogiannis family, these changes have come too late.

Speaking to ABC News, Tina Koutsogiannis shared how she was denied an exemption to see her father conscious for the last time at Concord Hospital, after he was admitted due to complications from COVID-19.

84-year-old, Sozo Koutsogiannis, and his wife, Shirley, contracted COVID-19 after New Year’s Eve.

Sozo began suffering “a little bit of heavy breathing” and a “cough,” and was admitted to hospital on January 21. Tina said that days later, doctors at the hospital called to tell her Sozo had pneumonia and infections.

READ MORE: ‘I’ve read it for 56 years’: Greek migrants share what The Greek Herald means to them.

Sozos was an avid reader of The Greek Herald. Photo by Kaily Koutsogiannis.

She “begged” hospital staff to let her see him multiple times, but was refused. The family was only allowed video calls.

On February 3, Tina was told her dad would need to be ventilated. An exemption to see him conscious one last time was again denied, but they did speak via video call.

“And then his last words to us were, he looked at us, his words were, ‘I love you too much’,” she told the national broadcaster.

After a last request to see him, Tina said she, her mother and sister were given an exemption to sit by his side for an hour as he lay unconscious the day before his death on February 5. 

These stories of heartbreak have forced the NSW Government to revise its hospital visitor guidelines today. These guidelines will now allow visits if it is “beneficial for the patient’s emotional or physical well-being.”

Source: ABC News.

Prosecutors call for harsher sentence for Frankie Prineas’ killer

The Greek Herald
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Prosecutors call for harsher sentence for Frankie Prineas’ killer

ACT prosecutors are calling for an increased sentence for convicted Canberra murderer, Jayscen Newby, who stabbed Frankie Prineas to death in 2020, ABC News reports.

Newby was sentenced to 20 years in jail and a 10-year non-parole period after stabbing Prineas to death while he was on a Tinder date with a woman Newby had known.

READ MORE: Alleged Charnwood murder victim named as Frankie Victor Prineas.

The crime scene in Canberra.

At the time of Newby’s trial last year, ACT Chief Justice Helen Murrell described the murder scene, at a home in Charnwood in Canberra’s north, as a “bloodbath.”

After the judgement was handed down, Prineas’ family said Newby’s jail term was not long enough and they were in “total dismay.”

“We knew we weren’t going to get justice; we knew it wasn’t going to be great, but we didn’t expect it to be so bad,” Prineas’ dad, Victor, said last year.

READ MORE: ‘Absolutely stunned’: Family react to 20 year sentence for murder of Frankie Prineas.

Frankie’s father Victor Prineas, aunt Angela and brother Peter. Photo: ABC News/Mark Moore.

‘Mutilated an innocent person’:

Today, the ACT Court of Appeal heard that the case against Newby was overwhelming, with an eye witness and DNA evidence.

ACT Director of Public Prosecutions, Shane Drumgold, told the court that Newby was given too large a discount on his sentence for his plea of guilty and cooperation in the court process.

According to ABC News, Drumgold told the court Newby had not shown remorse and his sentence should reflect the seriousness of the crime he committed.

Jayscen Anthony Newby. Picture: Instagram.

“He mutilated an innocent person to terrify his domestic partner,” he said. “It was an assertion of dominance.”

Newby’s lawyer, David Campbell, told the court even if it accepted the sentence was inadequate, any changes would only amount to “tinkering.”

The court has reserved its decision.

READ MORE: Man faces court after pleading guilty to murdering Greek Australian Frankie Prineas.

Source: ABC News.

‘Beyond logic’: Greece rejects Turkey’s renewed demand for demilitarisation of islands

The Greek Herald
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‘Beyond logic’: Greece rejects Turkey’s renewed demand for demilitarisation of islands

Greece has again rejected Turkey’s latest demand to demilitarise its islands, saying they “go beyond simple logic.”

Earlier on Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu reiterated his country’s call on Greece to demilitarise islands in the east Aegean, warning that if Athens does not change its stance then the debate questioning their sovereignty will begin.

“We sent two letters to the UN. We sent them because Greece is violating the demilitarisation regime of the islands. These islands were ceded to Greece by the Treaties of Lausanne of 1923 and Paris of 1947 on the condition of their demilitarisation. But Greece has been violating this regime since the 1960s,” Cavusoglu told the TRT television network.

READ MORE: Turkey renews call for demilitarisation of Greek islands in letter to UN.

“In the letter we wrote, we mentioned that Greece violates the terms of the treaties, these islands were given under conditions, and if Greece does not change its position, then the sovereignty of these islands is debatable.”

Greece absorbed the islands of Limnos, Samothrace, Lesvos, Samos, Chios and Ikaria from the Ottoman Empire in the Balkan Wars of 1912-13. It was officially awarded sovereignty over them in the Treaty of Lausanne of 1923.

Another treaty drawn up in London in 1914 had made Greek possession of the islands conditional on their demilitarisation.

Turkey says that since the Lausanne Treaty makes reference to the 1914 treaty, it implies the same conditionality. Greece rejects that interpretation.

In fact, Greek Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexandros Papaioannou, said on Thursday that they reject “in their entirety” the “latest accusations of Turkish officials about the status of the Aegean islands.”

“These accusations not only do not comply with basic principles of international law, but they also go beyond simple logic. The Greek position on this issue has been expressed repeatedly and publicly,” Papaioannou said.

Athens has sent a letter on this issue by Greece’s Permanent Representative to the UN to the Secretary General. 

READ MORE: Turkey issues fresh NAVTEX warnings demanding demilitarisation of 6 Greek islands.

Source: Ekathimerini.

Cooking with Greek Food Bloggers: Yiayia Rose’s Stuffed Squid

The Greek Herald
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Cooking with Greek Food Bloggers: Yiayia Rose’s Stuffed Squid

A lovely recipe for stuffed squid with rice and herbs in tomato sauce. Very popular in Greece as “Kalamaria Gemista”.

If you want to impress your guests look no further than Yiayia Rose’s traditional recipe.

Ingredients:

  • 16 squid small tubes,
  • 1 cup olive oil,
  • 1 White onion finely chopped,
  • 1 cup of rice,
  • 1/2 cup of water,
  • 400g Mutti tomato puree,
  • Bunch of parsley,
  • Bunch of mint,
  • 4 cloves crushed garlic,
  • 5 sprigs of chopped spring onion,
  • 2 tbs Mutti Tomato paste double
  • concentrate,
  • Freshly ground black pepper,
  • 1 Tsp Paprika,
  • 1/4 cup of Red wine,
  • 1 tbs dried oregano,
Photo by: Homemade by Rose

Method:

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C
  2. Under running water clean squid tubes and remove internal parts of squid, keeping the tentacles for the stuffing. Chop tentacles finely
  3. In half of the oil fry the chopped tentacles, onion and garlic, cook until all ingredients are soft.
  4. Add rice, water and tomato paste and continue stirring for 5-10 minutes.
  5. Add in the herbs, salt, pepper and paprika, cook for a further 5 minutes.
  6. Pour in the wine and stir until all combined.
  7. Once stuffing has cooled, stuff each tube lightly. Secure the openings with toothpicks (5-8cm H).
  8. In a heavy-bottomed oven dish, lay the squid side by side top-to-toe.
  9. Pour any left-over mixture on top of the squid. Cover the dish with Mutti tomato puree, olive oil and water.
  10. Bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes
Photo by: Homemade by Rose

*Keep up with Yiayia Rose’s culinary adventures by following Homemade by Rose on Instagram

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